Preservation ordinance changes proposed

Changes proposed for how Milwaukee buildings are designated as historic are scheduled for review Tuesday by the Common Council.

The city preservation ordinance says buildings designated as historic can't be demolished or have their exteriors changed without approval from the Historic Preservation Commission. Any denials can be overturned by a two-thirds council vote.

The new proposal doesn't change that system. But it does create new procedures for property owners to apply for permission to alter or demolish their buildlings.

That includes requirements for the commission and its staff to take various actions within specific time frames. For example, staffers must determine whether an application is complete within 10 days of receiving it.

The proposal provides more details on appeal procedures for property owners. And it requires building owners who claim preservation isn't feasible to provide information about the building's value, income and other business aspects.

Other proposed changes include providing city building inspectors with enforcement powers to prevent owners of historic properties from allowing them to deteriorate to the point where they can no longer be preserved.

Also; developers seeking to demolish a historic building to build a new structure must prove they have the financial resources to build that new building.

The proposal had a public hearing this week before the preservation commission, which voted unanimously to endorse it. The proposal will undergo review Tuesday at special meeting of the council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committe before the full council meeting later that day.

The proposal is sponsored by Ald. Bob Bauman, a preservation commission member, and Ald. Terry Witkowski. Both are zoning committee members.

Witkowski earlier this year proposed several other changes that were opposed by preservationists. Those included a $25 fee to nominate a property for historic status and allowing nominations only from aldermen, the building's property owner or a petition signed by at least 25 Milwaukee residents.

The new proposal includes a $25 fee, but has no restrictions on nominators.

Witkowski also had initially proposed requiring a two-thirds vote of the commission for historic designation if the owner objects, and allowing a historic district to be dissolved on the request of 35% of the district's property owners. Those provisions are not part of the new proposal.

The preservation ordinance was part of last year's debate over whether some 19th-century buildings should be demolished to make way for a 200-room Marriott hotel near the southwest corner of E. Wisconsin Ave. and N. Milwaukee St.

The preservation commission approved a plan to raze buildings on Milwaukee St. and blend the facades of the Wisconsin Ave. buildings into the new hotel.

However, the commission also required a 15-foot setback for the hotel so it would better blend in with nearby historic buildings. The developers appealed that condition, and the council overturned it. The Marriott is now under construction.

Commercial Real Estate News

Two packaging companies, both owned by Quad/Graphics Inc., are planning to expand their neighboring facilities in Franklin, according to information filed with the city.

Transpak Corp. and Proteus Packaging Corp. both operate on World Packaging Circle, a cul-de-sac within Franklin Business Park, south of W. Ryan Road and west of S. Oakwood Park Drive. Both companies moved to Franklin from Milwaukee in 2007, and were sold to Quad in 2013.

Transpak's services include export, domestic and military packaging, as well as product distribution. It operates a 300,000-square-foot facility, according to the company's website.